WIDNES RUGBY CLUB Welcome return a tough prospect
THE vagaries of the fixture list meant that Widnes RUFC were once again without a game last weekend.
This time it wasn’t the weather that prevented them from playing, but rather that there were no fixtures scheduled for last weekend other than a couple of hastily rearranged matches which went the way of Didsbury and West Park respectively.
It means that the last time the ‘red-and-blacks’ played a game was away at Ormskirk on 13th February. The good news however, is that all things being equal, they will make a return to action this coming Saturday, when they make the very short journey along the Speke Road to take on Liverpool Collegiate in their own backyard.
And, what a tough game it promises to be!
Surprisingly, this will be the first time the two clubs have met this season even though the campaign is now into March and closer to its conclusion rather than the beginning.
The pair should have met at Heath Road in early December, but was called off at short notice by Collegiate who cited cases of Covid and a lack of front row forwards as the reasons why the game could not be played.
As a consequence, both clubs will be hoping for better luck this time around.
Up until that point, Collegiate had been muchimproved this season, and a decent run of results saw them elevated into third place in the table. But, a couple of concedes and a recent defeat by West Park has seen them drop down to sixth spot. They will, however, be formidable opponents on their own ground.
Despite, the stop-start nature to their own season so far, the Wids still have plenty to play for, and a win here ideally with a bonus point is an absolute must.
Although their recent league form hasn’t been great since the performance against Aldwinians, they are still winning, and narrow victories against Fleetwood and more latterly Ormskirk has kept them in the hunt for what would be a third straight league title. In addition, they have already qualified for the final of the League Cup and reached the semifinal of the Lancashire Cup.
The game on Saturday kicks off at 2.15pm
Although action on the field has been fairly sparse recently, an exciting tussle continues at the top of the try scoring chart.
Compared to recent years though, honours this season are seemingly being shared amongst a number of players in the squad.
Currently, wing forward Will Patient is top of the list with nine tries, and he is closely followed by Arnie Haydock and Liam Lawton, who both have six. Next, come Tom Spencer, Andy Owens and Tom O’Neill who all have five tries apiece.
However, some of the newcomers have also begun to make their mark to really squeeze things up.
Recent additions have seen Lee Holland record four tries in just six games, whilst wing man Jack Krause has grabbed three tries in just four appearances. Scrum half Ciaran O’Donnell has also made an early impression by grabbing two tries in his opening three appearances.
In the goalkicking charts; Andy Owens has booted over 22 conversions and four penalties, just ahead of Captain Kevin Leadbetter who has added 19 conversions alongside his four penalty goals.